Inspiring

Answered

Practical question for Bucket tool

Forum|Forum|25 days ago
June 29, 2026
3 replies
45 views

I have a question, how to practically work with Paint Bucket tool.

For example here, I have the outline and I would like it to change to black. However it is not capable to change it smoothly. Usually I don't have the advantage of being it on seperate layer for color overlay.

Correct answer c.pfaffenbichler

If there are only two effective colors anyway please try using a gradient map adjustment layer and move the stops according to the original's luminance.

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

To illustrate how a Gradient Map Adjustment Layer could be used here:

D Fosse

Community Expert

Indeed. Here’s the thread. The general conclusion is that the paintbucket is old and outdated, and there are so many better alternatives and workflows now.

https://community.adobe.com/questions-712/why-does-the-paint-bucket-tool-leave-a-bloody-white-unfilled-line-around-my-art-this-is-very-annoying-and-yall-should-fix-it-sincerly-weenie-1629733?tid=1629733&postid=7694401#post7694401

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

In the image @Yuriwexy posted screenshots of a Black Solid Color Layer with an appropriate Blend if-setting might suffice, but it’s hard to judge based on that small part visible.

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

Could you please provide the image in question?

What are the Tool settings (Tolerance etc.) you are using? (see Options Bar)

The Paintbucket Tool has come up recently in another thread and several Photoshop users generally agreed that the Tool has serious drawbacks.

Depending on the image content other approaches might take (slightly) longer but provide better results.

Y

YuriwexyAuthor

Inspiring

It was kinda general question, because it is problematic always. I’v read the thread, which D Fosse mentioned, but didn't really answered me, how to do it differently then.

But here is the whole example

Changing the Tolerance or other settings doesn’t really help

For more context, I have here the whole character prepared for rigging, but I would like it to change from skin color to white skin with black outline. So I need to change the outline color and cover color

c.pfaffenbichler

Correct answer

Community Expert

If there are only two effective colors anyway please try using a gradient map adjustment layer and move the stops according to the original's luminance.

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